Save Energy & Electricity

Every time you power on an electronic device, household appliance or light bulb you are placing demand on the energy that comes into your home. Electricity is created by burning coal, a fossil fuel whose emissions are a major contributor to harmful greenhouse gases, pollution and global warming. Practicing energy conservation and becoming more energy efficient around the house will help you save energy which is good for the environment and will reduce your monthly electric bill.

A balance of conservation and efficiency is the best way to save energy. Conservation refers to limiting your energy use while efficiency means making the most out of the electricity you must use. Simple conservation measures like being attentive about turning off lights when you leave a room will help decrease the amount of electricity you use.

Reducing your use of household systems and appliances is another easy, no-cost way to save electricity. Heating and cooling your home and running major appliances account for the major of your household’s electricity demand. To save energy, run only full loads in your washing machine, dryer and dishwasher. By consolidating loads you will use these devices less often and extend the life of the appliance. Using cold water for clothes washing and hanging clothes to dry instead of running the dryer are extra measures you can take to save energy at home.
Properly maintaining your home’s heating and cooling systems will save energy and extend the life of these units. Installing programmable thermostats will amount to significant savings by lowering the temperature in your home during the hours it is unoccupied and at night. Keeping the temperature at a recommended 68 degrees in the winter while you are home will also help you cut down on your energy use. Raising the temperature a few degrees in the summer will further help you save energy.

If your major appliances are old and outdated consider replacing them with energy-efficient models that require far less electricity to perform the same tasks. Appliances like refrigerators, dishwashers and washing machines are required to contain a label that provides information about their efficiency and offers comparisons to other similar models. Also consider how many appliances you need to run. If you have an extra refrigerator or freezer for cold storage, determine if you can consolidate into one energy-efficient refrigerator.

Your home’s water heater accounts for a lot of energy consumption. Use cold water instead of hot water to rinse dishes before putting them in the dishwasher. Purchasing a high-efficiency dishwasher that does not require pre-rinsing will help save energy as well. The temperature on your hot water heater should be set to 120 degrees. This temperature is sufficient for sanitation and comfortable for bathing. Choose showering over bathing to save energy and shorten your shower time by two minutes. To make your hot water heater more efficient, wrap it in an inexpensive insulating jacket available at most hardware or home improvement stores.

Replacing incandescent light bulbs with high-efficiency compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL) is a small step that can add up to big energy savings. Energy efficient light bulbs require less electricity and last longer than traditional bulbs.